Photographic sheet material processing apparatus



Dec. 2l, 1965 M. B. FLEISHER ETAL 3,224,356

PHTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIAL PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1963 5 sheets-sheet 1A' #a me //2 #l ATTORNEY' Dec 21A, 1965 M. B. FLlsHER ETAL 3,224,356

PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIAL PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pda/"vl Hizo )BY/Ma www Dec- 21, 1965 M. B. FLl-:lsH ETAL 3,224,356

PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIAL PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 www ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1965 M B, FLElsHER ETAL 3,224,356

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Dec. 21, 1965 Mi B. FLEISHER ETAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIAL PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BMM ATTORNEYJ United States Patent 3,224,356 PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIAL PROCESSING APPARATUS Marvin B. Fleisher, Wantagh, and Philip E. Hixon, Jericho, N.Y., assignors to The Rolor Corporation,

Syosset, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 275,360 6 Claims. (Cl. 95-94) T-he present invention relates to improvements in photographic sheet materi-al processing apparatus, and relates more particularly to a continuous photographic sheet material processing apparatus employing a plurality of cooperating endless belts for conveying photographic sheet material through treating baths.

In the treating of photographic sheet material, such as the processing of prints for example, it has been customary to d-ip the exposed print in a plurality of baths or solutions, a minimum number of which is generally four, namely a developer, a short stop, a fixer, and a washer. Heretoiore, there have been several attempts to permit the automatic immersions of the photographic prints in t-he solutions. However, these prior art machines have left much to be desired, in that they have not provided means to handle photographic sheet material of varying widths or lengths Withou-t altering the apparatus. Furthermore, in conventional devices of this type, the photographic prints, for example, are very often scratched, creased or otherwise undesirably mark-ed, so that the developed material does not have the preferred high quality. Moreover, in order that the photographic sheet material be properly processed, tanks of appreci-able size were required to give the material the necessary time in the solution. Such tanks not only cost more but also required more floor s ace.

pThe present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages by providing apparatus through which photographic sheet material of appreciable length may be processed. In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of endless belts are employed for conveying the photographic sheet material through treating baths. T-he arrangement of the belts is such that they form a plurality of material conveying passes, and are positioned so that the material is transferred from one pass to another wit-hou-t becoming creased or otherwise marred.

An important object `of this invention is to provide an improved continuous processing apparatus by which a strip of photographic material is guided, fed through and processed in .one processing operation or a series of processing operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a conveyor for the photographic sheet material in the form of cooperating endless belts of spongy material.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel reinforced conveyor belt which will not stretch during use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for transporting sheet material between successive treating tanks with-out creasing or marring said material.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for processing photographic sheet material of varying lengths and widths without requiring alteration of t-he apparatus.

More specifically, the apparatus of the present invention is so designed that it will continuously move -a photographic print or other sheet through `one or a series of tanks wherein the print .or sheet is treated with solutions of developer, short stop, fixer and wash, by means of cooperating endle-ss reinforced polyurethane belts together with a novel arrangement of transfer elements positioned yat the uppermost and lowermost portions of said tanks.

Therefore another object of this invention is t-o provide novel guide elements at the top of each treating tank in the form of endless lresilient bands or rings, curved wire elements or a combination of both.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel arrangement of gui-de rollers positioned -in the lower portion of each treating tank which will readily trans er any type of photographic material between successive passes of endless belts.

Other objects and advantages of this invention Will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

-FIGURE 1 is a top view of a pair of treating tanks constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, with the means for introducing and removing sheet material frorn the right hand tank having been omitted;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus within the treating tank-s as seen in a direction substantially indicated byline 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a vert-ical cross-:sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1, showing the arrangement of the endless 'belts within one of the treating tanks;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the endless belts employed in the apparatus of the instant invention with parts thereof broken away;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged View, partly in section, of a portion of one of the endless belts;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a partial top view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a partial vertical cross-.sectional View taken on the line 10 1(l of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a partial vertical cross-sectional View taken on the line 11 11 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 12 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 12 12 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URES 1 and 2, reference numerals 22 and 24 designate tanks containing two of the various liquid baths essential to the successive automatically performed steps of a photographic material developing process. As clearly shown in FIGURE 1, the treating tanks are mounted within a suitable housing 26. Although only two tanks are shown in the interest of brevity, it is to be understood that a series of identical tanks are normally used in a complete developing process. The tanks contain in successive order from the starting to the linishing of the process, a developing solution, a short stop solution, a fixing solution, and a washing solution which may be water. As the photographic material must be immersed in the various solutions, there is provided means to carry the material downwardly towards the bottom of the tanks, and thence upwardly out of each tank, whereby the material may come into contact with the solution for the necessary length of time. To this end there is provided in each tank, three endless belts 28, 30, 32 which are trained rollers 46, 48, 54 and lower rollers 48, 50, Shafts generally designated 47, 49, 55 are suitably mounted in housing 26 for supporting said rollers as clearly shown in FIGURE 4. The endless belts cooperate to traverse photographic material though the 2 and 4,

cal pass by which the material is carried downwardly into each tank. Likewise, the abutting sides of belts 30 and 32 cooperate to carry the material positioned therebetween upwardly. Additional guide rollers, clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, are provided at spaced vertical positions to properly align the belts 28, 30 and 32.

An essential feature of the instant invention is the novel guide elements positioned at the top of each treating tank. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3, the guide elements are in the form of a plurality of resilient bands or rings 34, 36 and 56, 58 spaced along shafts 38, 40, 42, 44 and shafts 60, 62, 64, 66 respectively, The bands 34 and 36 contact opposite sides of the photographic material and convey the same downwardly into the nip between belts 28 and 30. In a similar manner, bands 56 and 58 engage opposite sides of the material as it leaves the upper end of a vertical pass dened by the abutting sides' of belts 30 and 32. The band or ring transfer mechanism of this invention thus permits a simple transfer of material regardless of its width or thickness, thus making the apparatus useful for processing photographic lilms or prints. All of the bands or rings are formed from any suitable flexible material which is inert to the developing solutions contained in the tanks. Intermediate bands 68 and 70 mounted on rollers of adjacent tanks are employed to transfer the material to successive tanks at the uppermost portions thereof.

Another essential feature of the instant invention is the provision of a novel transfer mechanism at the bottom of each tank which insures the proper accurate transfer of the material being treated from the downward first vertical pass between belts 28 and 30 to the upward second pass between belts 30 and 32. To this end, and as clearly shown in FIGURE 4, the lower end of belt 30 is trained about the lowermost roller 48, while the lower end of belt 28 is trained about both the guide rollers 50 and 52. In accordance with this invention, the axis of roller 50 is positioned below and in alignment with the lowermost roller 48 associated with belt 30. In this manner, the material carried down between the sides of belts 28 and 30 is restrained on both of its sides by the belts 28, 30 until it is conveyed to a point in alignment with the axes of lowermost roller 48 andfguide roller 50. Thus, the leading edge of the material is momentarily projected in unsupported condition tangentially to the circumference of rollers 48, 50 until it contacts the belt 32 which is traveling in a counterclockwise direction and is carried upwardly into a second vertical pass between the belts 30 and 32. Therefore, by allowing the material to be unrestrained in this reversal zone between the vertical passes, the tendency of the material to become creased as it changes direction is overcome. It will be appreciated that the construction of the conveyor system together with the transfer mechanisms is identical in each of the four required processing tanks.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 to 7, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the endless belts employed in the apparatus of the present invention. The belts 28, 30 and 32 are made of any resilient cellular or spongelike material preferably having a basis of a synthetic polymeric material. Optimum results are obtained by the use of cellular polyurethane. In FIGURE 5, the belt is shown as consisting of a thick top layer 72 of polyurethane foam, a wire reinforcing web 74 and a thin bottom layer 76 of polyurethane foam. The use of the wire reinforcing web, preferably stainless steel, provides a flexible belt which will not stretch during use. The Ithick top layer 72 is adapted to contact the material being treated whereas the thin lower layer '76 is adapted to bear against the support rollers. The construction of the reinforcing web 74 is best shown in FIGURE 6 and includes a plurality of essentially straight portions 78, extending transversely of the belt and a plurality of essentially U-shaped portions 80 terminating in curved ends 82. The construction of the wire reinforcing web is such that an individual strand may be disengaged and replace if damaged.

A suitable drive mechanism for the apparatus of the present invention is best shown in FIGURE 3 and includes a drive shaft operatively connected to a sprocket (not shown) for driving chain 92. As shown, the upper end of the chain 92 is trained about a sprocket 94 mounted on a shaft 96 which extends across the upper part of tank 22. A sprocket 98 operatively engaging a chain 100 is mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 96. The chain 100 is engageable with sprockets 102 which are mounted on shafts 49 supporting rollers 48. Thus, movement of chain 100 is imparted to rollers 48 which in turn imparts movement to the endless belt 30. In like manner, gears 104, 106 and 108 are provided for transmitting movement to upper rollers 46 and 54 and thence to belts 28, 32. Sprockets 110 operatively connected to chain 112 are provided for moving rollers 54 in unison. Movement of the lower rollers is effected by means of gear 114 and ygears 116, associated with endless chain 118.

The drive means for the supply and discharge bands 34, 36, 56, 58, 68 and 70 are best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. As illustrated, the-shafts 42 and 44 associated withbands 36 are driven by means of gear 108operatively associated with gears 122 and 126. Gear 122 further engages `with gear 128 which is secured to shaft 38 supporting band 34. Shaft 40 also associated with band 34 is driven by means of uppermost gear 104 operatively associated with gears 130, 132. The gear 132 is also engageable with gear 134 mounted on the shaft 60 associated with band 56. Furthermore, the uppermost gear 106 is operatively connected with gears 136, 138, and 142 for moving the bands 56, 58.

Suitable means are provided for connecting the apparatus in adjacent tanks. To this end, as shown in FIGURE 1, a drive chain 144 extends from a sprocket (not shown) mounted on a shaft in tank 22 to a sprocket mounted'on an extended end 146 of a corresponding shaft in tank 24.

FIGURES 8 to 10 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, stationary guide means are substituted for several of the endless band or ring transfer means.

As is best shown in FIGURE 10, a stationary delivery chute 148 is provided to deliver photographic material to tank 22 in lieu of endless bands 34, 36 and their associated drive means.

Stationary guide means are also provided for receiving material from bands 56, 58 and conveying said material to the nip of endless belts 28, 30 of the next processing tank. The guide means includes a plurality of arcuate, substantially parallel upper wire 150 and lower wires 152. As clearly shown in FIGURE 10, the lower wires are welded or otherwise suitably secured to a transverse supporting bar 154 mounted on an angle iron 156 aflixed to the wall of the processing tank. Upper wires 150 are similarly secured to a vertically adjustable bar 158. A threaded adjustment member 160 is provided to regulate the vertical portion of bar 158. Thus, the space between wires 150 and 152 may be readily adjustedl to adjust the guide mechanism to the thickness of the material being treated. Therefore, it is readily apparent that the novel wire guide transfer mechanism of the present invention may easily process photographic films or thicker photographic print paper.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details shown, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Photographic sheet material processing apparatus comprising a pair of adjacent treating tanks, each of said tanks having first, second and third endless belts with adjacent runs of the belts abutting to form a downward and an upward vertical pass through the tank, the second belt at its lower end being trained around a support roller,

a roller for supporting said rst belt positioned below said first named support roller, the axes of said rollers being substantially in vertical alignment so that said first and second belts continue to abut over portions of the peripheries of said support rollers, feed means for introducing sheet material into said downward pass, and means for conveying the material from one tank to another, said last mentioned means including upwardly inclined upper and lower ileXible bands for receiving the material from between adjacent runs of said second and third endless belts and further including essentially horizontal endless bands for receiving the material from between the inclined flexible bands and for conveying the material to the feed means of an adjacent tank.

2. A photographic sheet material processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the belts are of spongy polyurethane.

3. A photographic material processing apparatus acaccording to claim 2 wherein the polyurethane belts are provided with an inner wire reinforcing web.

4. Photographic sheet material processing apparatus comprising a pair of adjacent treating tanks, each of said tanks having first, second and third endless belts with adjacent runs of the belts abutting to form a downward and an upward vertical pass through the tank, the second belt at its lower end trained around a support roller, a roller for supporting said irst belt positioned below said support roller, the axes of said rollers being substantially in vertical alignment so that said first and second belts continue to abut over a portion of the periphery of said support roller, feed means for introducing sheet material into said downward pass, said feed means including a plurality of upper and lower flexible bands for contacting opposite sides of the material and means for conveying the prints from one tank to another, said last mentioned means including upwardly inclined upper and lower flexible bands for receiving the material from between adjacent runs of said second and third endless belts and further including essentially horizontal endless bands for receiving the material from between the inclined endless bands and for conveying the material to the feed means of an adjacent tank.

5. Processing apparatus for photographic sheet material comprising at least two adjacent treating tanks, each of said tanks being provided with an assembly including first, second and third endless belts with adjacent runs of the belts cooperating to form material conveying passes through the tank, means for initially carrying material to each tank comprising a plurality of movable endless flexible bands mounted in spaced relationship to each other and thereby defining a passageway for said material,

means for transferring material between vertical passes in each tank comprising a pair of belt supporting rollers mounted in vertical alignment so that the material is discharged tangentially thereto and in position to be received by an adjacent belt without being creased or otherwise marred and means for conveying the material to the next successive tank comprising a plurality of movable, inclined endless flexible bands operatively associated with a plurality of movable horizontal ilexible bands.

6. Photographic sheet material processing apparatus comprising a pair of adjacent treating tanks, each of said tanks having first, second and third endless belts with adjacent runs of the belts abutting to form a downward and an upward vertical pass through the tank, the second belt at its lower end trained around a support roller, a roller for supporting said lirst belt positioned below said support roller, the axes of said rollers being substantially in vertical alignment so that said first and second belts continue to abut over a portion of the periphery of said support roller, feed means for introducing sheet material into said downward pass, said feed means including a plurality of upper and lower flexible bands for contacting opposite sides of the material and means for conveying the prints from one tank to another, said last mentioned means consisting of upwardly inclined upper and lower llexible bands for receiving the material from between adjacent runs of said second and third endless belts and a plurality of upper and lower arcuate wires spaced to form a passageway for said material received from said inclined upper and lower flexible bands, said wires being essentially paral lel to each other and including adjusting means to vary the spacing between said upper and lower wires.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,344,941 3/1944 Dutch 95-94 2,795,312 6/1957 Howdle 198165 X 2,812,699 11/1957 Bungay 95-94 2,913,974 11/ 1959 Sabel et al 95-94 3,033,351 5/1962 Dutch 198-178 3,063,884 11/1962 Glover et al 198-193 X 3,072,037 1/ 1963 Hixon et al 95-94 3,154,459 10/1964 Cranston 198-193 X FOREIGN PATENTS 351,172 1/1961 Austria. 1,094,102 12/ 1960 Germany.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

1. PHOTOGRAPIC SHEET MATERIAL PROCESSING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ADJACENT TREATING TANKS, EACH OF SAID TANKS HAVING FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD ENDLESS BELTS WITH ADJACENT RUNS OF THE BELTS ABUTTING TO FORM A DOWNWARD AND AN UPWARD VERTICAL PASS THROUGH THE TANK, THE SECOND BELT AT ITS LOWER END BEING TRAINED AROUND A SUPPORT ROLLER, A ROLLER FOR SUPPORTING SAID FIRST BELT POSITIONED BELOW SAID FIRST NAMED SUPPORT ROLLER, THE AXES OF SAID ROLLERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT SO THAT SAID FIRST AND SECOND BELTS CONTINUE TO ABUT OVER PORTIONS OF THE PERIPHERIES OF SAID SUPPORT ROLLERS, FEED MEANS FOR INTRODUCING SHEET MATERIAL INTO SAID DOWNWARD PASS, AND MEANS FOR CONVEYING THE MATERIAL FROM ONE TANK TO ANTOHER, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING UPWARDLY INCLINED UPPER AND LOWER FLEXIBLE BANDS FOR RECEIVING THE MATERIAL FROM BETWEEN ADJACENT RUNS OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD ENDLESS BELTS AND FURTHER INCLUDING ESSENTIALLY HORIZONTAL ENDLESS BANDS FOR RECEIVING HE MATERIAL FROM BETWEEN THE INCLINED FLEXIBLE BANDS AND FOR CONVEYING THE MATERIAL TO THE FEED MEANS OF AN ADJACENT TANK. 